The car manufacturer dominates the landscape and lends its name to the 30,000-capacity arena that held Saturday’s fixture yet was surprisingly less than half-full for the visit of the Goodison outfit.
With no European football this season, around a thousand Everton fans made the trip to Germany. But they may have been wondering why they bothered at half-time following a curiously lacklustre showing from the visitors.
The Fuhrer around Wolfsburg these days is recently-appointed manager Steve McClaren, and Moyes later admitted Everton were outwitted by the former England head coach.
But in truth, they were too often architects of their own downfall. Raiding right-back Sascha Riether had already signalled his intent with a cross that was headed wide by striker Dzeko when he created the opener on 18 minutes, his low ball met by an unmarked Mandzukic at the far post.
Nine minutes later, Distin compounded an initial misjudgement that allowed Dzeko a clear run on goal by racing back and fouling the Wolfsburg man inside the area.
Dzeko picked himself up to take the spot kick, only to see Howard dive to his right and save his penalty before repelling Mandzukic’s follow-up attempt.
It was only a temporary reprieve, however, with another succession of errors leading to Wolfsburg’s second on 39 minutes.
After Distin headed against Dzeko, Jagielka’s hurried clearance fell to Ziani who, standing out on the right wing, struck a miscued cross that fortuitously floated over Howard and into the net.
Everton were restricted to shots from range in the opening half with neither Arteta nor Osman able to test Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.
The introduction of Fellaini at least brought steel to Everton’s previously porous midfield, although the visitors were hampered somewhat by playing 31 minutes without a recognised striker until Yakubu, making his first appearance since the World Cup, was thrown on during the final quarter.
“I knew it was going to be tough coming here,” said Moyes. “We wanted a hard game and that proved to be the case. Wolfsburg were better than us, especially in the first half.
“I think we gave the ball away 18 times in the first half. We were too pretty and played too much, which is something we will work on.
“But losing this game doesn’t really matter – it only matters when the real ball comes out.”
Roll on Saturday.
